Air Travel Chaos: The Impact of Government Shutdown

Air travel turmoil continues to escalate, with over 1,660 flights delayed nationwide on Monday and a staggering 8,600 delays recorded on Sunday. This disruption comes as the absence of air traffic controllers has surged amidst a prolonged federal government shutdown, now in its 27th day.

The Federal Aviation Administration attributes the staffing shortages to a significant impact on flights across the Southeast and at Newark Airport. Additionally, the FAA's implementation of a ground delay at Los Angeles International resulted in an average delay of 25 minutes for affected flights.

Major airlines are grappling with the effects. Southwest Airlines reported that 45% of its flights were delayed on Sunday, while American Airlines had nearly one-third of its flights impacted. The delays, driven largely by controller absences, which have risen sharply from the usual 5% to 44%, highlight the mounting frustration and pressure on lawmakers to resolve the impasse.